Bank Employee Dies at Work, Body Found Four Days Later

Tempe, AZ (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Wells Fargo employee was discovered dead in her office four days after she last scanned into her building, officials said.

Sixty-year-old Dines Prudhomme died at work, police said, one of several employees to die on the job this month.

Police said Prudhomme scanned into her building in Tempe, Ariz., on August 16, but was found dead in her cubicle on August 20. Tempe police were called to the Wells Fargo office late in the afternoon by on-site security because they found her unresponsive.

Initial investigations into her death found no obvious signs of foul play, the Maricopa County medical examiner said, and an investigation into what happened is ongoing.

It’s not clear, officials said, how Prudhomme went unnoticed for so long. News agencies in the area said Prudhomme worked in a cubicle on the third floor, away from the main aisle, in an “under-populated area” of the building.

Witnesses told police that a colleague found her at her desk while they were walking around the building. Several people reported a foul smell in the building but thought it was faulty plumbing.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague, Denise Prudhomme. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones, and we are in contact to ensure they are well supported during this difficult time,” the company said in a statement Thursday.

The company said it was committed to the safety and wellness of its workforce and that it was reviewing its internal procedures following the discovery.

A Wells Fargo spokesperson said some employees were upset that they weren’t contacted first about the death, but that the company felt it was prudent to notify the family first. Officials with Wells Fargo said they were making counselors available to employees.

In Atlanta, two workers were killed when a tire exploded at the Atlanta airport.

Officials said the explosion at a maintenance shop at Atlanta’s airport sent a piece of metal flying Tuesday morning, killing the workers and seriously injuring another.

According to the Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Office, Mirko Marweg, 58, of Stone Mountain, Ga., and Luis Alarondo. 37, of Newnan, were killed. One of the men was a Delta employee and the other was a contractor. Another Delta employee was reportedly seriously injured, but was not identified.

Delta said it is cooperating with the investigation into the incident.

“The Delta family is heartbroken at the loss of two team members and the injury of another following an incident this morning at the Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance facility (TOC 3). We have extended our full support to family members and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time,” the company said in a statement. “The Delta family is grateful for the quick action of first responders and medical teams on site. We are now working with local authorities and conducting a full investigation to determine what happened.

While details on the incident have not been released, a note to Delta employees said the accident happened inside the wheel and brake shop.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens shared his condolences for the workers injured in the explosion.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees. My thoughts are also with those who were injured, and I hope for their swift and full recovery. AFRD, APD, and HJAIA teams are on the scene, working diligently to address the situation,” he wrote.

Airport officials said the Federal Aviation Administration is aware of the incident and is in communication with Delta, and that OSHA is investigating the event.

And in California, a prison employee is dead after coming into contact with an unknown substance at work.

Officials said a Federal Bureau of Prisons employee died earlier this month after working in the mailroom of the U.S. penitentiary in Atwater, Cal. A spokesperson for the prison system said the employee began to feel unwell on Friday after coming in contact with something, and was rushed to the hospital. He was later pronounced dead.

A second employee also came in contact with the substance and was taken to the hospital for observation, but was later released. Prison officials are working to determine if the substance may have been fentanyl, officials said.

"Our hearts are heavy as we extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of our fallen Bureau employee," a Bureau of Prisons spokesperson said. "Out of respect for the family's privacy and the grief of our Bureau community, we have no further details to share at this time."

The Council of Prison Locals, the BOP’s largest union representing employees, has advocated for greater mailroom safety, Council President Brandy Moore-White said. Last year, a bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nev. To require the prison bureau to electronically scan all mail coming into the facilities. Current procedures are unclear, the congressman’s office said.

The bill was stalled in the Judiciary Committee and has not come to the floor for a vote since its introduction in December.

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